The Hamburg Atlantik Line,
was founded by Vernicos Eugenides in January 1958. Vernicos Eugenides
was the adopted son of Eugen Eugenides, who had been the founder/president
of Home
Lines. Home Lines
acted as agents for Hamburg Atlantik in the US. The company acquired
the three-funnelled Canadian
Pacific Liner Empress
of Scotland (built as Empress of Japan in 1930). After
substantial rebuilding into the more modern looking two-funnelled
liner Hanseatic (1), services began between Cuxhaven,
Havre, Southampton and New York in July 1958. Home Lines withdrew
their ship on the Hamburg-New York service, leaving Hamburg Atlantik
with a monopoly on this route (Vernicos Eugenides was by then
president of both Hamburg Atlantik and Home Lines). 1959 was
Hamburg Atlantik's best year on the New York service, air traffic
competition becoming more significant after that. Hanseatic
(1) spent more time cruising, and only completed eight round
voyages in 1965.

In December 1965, a new
company known as Deutsche Atlantik Line was formed to finance
a new ship. Axel Bitsch-Christensen, the manager of Hamburg Atlantik,
drew up a scheme to offer past passengers on Hanseatic (1)
shares in the new company. This was successful, and an order
was placed for the 25000 ton Hamburg in November 1966.
However, the Hanseatic (1) had been badly damaged by fire
in September 1966. She was towed to Hamburg, but considered unsuitable
for repair. The loss-making Shalom of Zim Lines was bought in 1967 by a third new
company, the Hanseatic Schiffahrts Gesellschaft, and renamed
Hanseatic (2). The Hamburg Atlantik Line was then wound
up, and the Hanseatic (2) was marketed as the Deutsche
Atlantik Line. She was joined by the new Hamburg in 1969,
by which time both ships were cruising full time, with annual
positioning trips across the Atlantic. The company was by this
time co-operating with Holland
America Line, who
were general agents for Deutsche America Line in the US, Canada
and Mexico.

1973 was a difficult year
for cruise operators, and Hanseatic (2) was sold to Home Lines as their Doric. The Hamburg was briefly renamed Hanseatic
(3), but was then sold herself to the Soviet Union (Black
Sea Shipping Co) in early 1974, becoming the Maxim Gorky.
She has subsequently spent many years catering for the German
market, on charter to Phoenix Reisen of Bonn.

Hanseatic Tours was formed
by Dirk Moldenhauer, a former captain with Deutsche Atlantik.
There was no other direct link with the older company that I
am aware of, but he acquired the rights to use the colours and
name Hanseatic for the Society Adventurer, which
was bought whilst under construction. Because of the continuation
of the name and livery, it seems appropriate to deal with the
company on this page. The company was bought by Hapag-Lloyd in 1997, but the Hanseatic
has retained her historic name and livery within the Hapag-Lloyd
fleet.

The new Hamburg Atlantik
company acquired the three-funnelled Canadian Pacific Liner Empress
of Scotland (built as Empress of Japan in 1930). After
substantial rebuilding into the more modern looking two-funnelled
liner Hanseatic (1), services began between Cuxhaven,
Havre, Southampton and New York in July 1958. 1959 was Hamburg
Atlantik's best year on the New York service, air traffic competition
becoming more significant after that. Hanseatic (1) spent
more time cruising, and only completed eight round voyages in
1965. The Hanseatic (1) was badly damaged by fire in New
York on 7th September 1966. She was towed to Hamburg, but considered
unsuitable for repair. The Zim Lines Shalom was acquired
in 1967 to replace her.

An official
Hamburg-Atlantik postcard of Hanseatic (1), advertising
(in French) three cruises from Zeebrugge on 2nd April, 12th May
and 29th June. Unfortunately the year is not stated. The card
is printed by Kruger (serial: 920/48).

A very
similar postcard of Hanseatic (1) to the one above (note
that the position of the fourth small boat has changed). This
was printed was printed both as Hans Anders 13662, and Conwa
8860, both versions having Hamburg-Atlantik serial 8536.

A further
variation of the postcards of Hanseatic (1) shown above.

The
same image of the postcard of Hanseatic (1) shown above,
but with inferior colour and sharpness.

Scan
supplied by Fred Schnittke.

An unusual
musical postcard of Hanseatic, with a 45 rpm record embossed
on the front.

The
image of the ships has been rather crudely added to a view of
New York.

The
two-minute song has a men's chorus apparently extolling the virtues
of the Hanseatic.

Scan:
Barbara Krim.

A later
Hamburg-Atlantik official postcard of Hanseatic (1), with
exhaust extensions to the funnels.

A later
Hamburg-Atlantik official postcard of Hanseatic (1), with
exhaust extensions to the funnels.

Deutsche Atlantik Line

Hanseatic (2) 1967-73

The first Hanseatic
(ex-Empress of Scotland) caught fire in New York in 1966.
She was towed to Hamburg to be broken up. Deutsche Atlantik were
able to buy the three-year-old Shalom, and renamed her
the Hanseatic (2). Although intended for Hamburg-New York
service, she soon spent her time cruising the world, and an attractive
series of official cards were issued showing many ports of call
(although they were not identified on the cards!).

The
following eight postcards are all Deutsche Atlantik official
releases of the Hanseatic (2).

She
received generous postcard coverage of this stage of her career.

This
is an enlargement from the official postcard above.

Otto
Schulze (Hamburg) card 745a (79/84) of Hanseatic (2).

Hildegard
Mielck (Kiel) card 7086 of Hanseatic (2).

HHH
(Hans Hartz, Hamburg) postcard 1/518 of Hanseatic (2).

HHH
(Hans Hartz, Hamburg) postcard 1223 of Hanseatic (2).

Postcard
of Hanseatic (2) at Cuxhaven.

Postcard
of Hanseatic (2) at Cuxhaven.

Hamburg - Hanseatic (3) 1969-74

The Hamburg was
ordered in 1966, and entered service in January 1969, the first
major German-built liner since 1938. Although intended for the
Hamburg-New York service, she operated as a full time cruise
ship from new. In 1973 she was renamed Hanseatic (3) when
the Hanseatic (2) was sold to Home Lines. I do not have any postcards issued as Hanseatic
(2). The new name was short lived, since Hamburg was
sold to the Soviet Union (Black Sea Shipping Co) in early 1974,
becoming the Maxim Gorky. She has subsequently spent many
years catering for the German market, on charter to Phoenix Reisen of Bonn.

The
subsequent history of this ship is shown on the complete postcard
history on
this link.

Deutsche
Atlantik official postcard of Hamburg.

Deutsche
Atlantik official postcard of Hamburg. An enlargement
of the ship is shown below.

Deutsche
Atlantik official postcard of Hamburg and Hanseatic
(2) at St Thomas.

Anders,
Hamburg, postcard of Hamburg at Hamburg, serial 8585.
the freighter in the foreground is the Rio Lujan (1949)
of state-owned Empresa Lineas Maritimes Argentinas.

Kruger,
Hamburg, postcard of Hamburg at Hamburg, serial 920/210.

Kruger,
Hamburg, postcard of Hamburg at Hamburg, serial 920/208.

Unidentified
postcard of Hamburg at Hamburg, similar to the one above,
but dressed overall.

Hanseatic Tours 1991-97

Hanseatic (4)

The Hanseatic Tours vessel
Hanseatic (4) was built in 1991. She was ordered as the
Society Adventurer, of Discoverer Rederei, but bought
by Hanseatic Tours before delivery. The owner of Hanseatic Tours,
Dirk Moldenhauer, was the final captain of the last German registered
Hanseatic of Deutsche Atlantik Linie. He bought the rights
to the Deutsche Atlantik Line logo and the name Hanseatic.
Hapag-Lloyd took over Hanseatic Tours, and the Hanseatic
in 1997, and Dick Moldenhauer became one of the chiefs of Hapag-Lloyd
Seetouristik.

A more
complete postcard history of this ship, including a card of Society
Adventurer, is shown on this link.

Hanseatic
Tours issued a stream of superb postcards of the Hanseatic
(4) during their ownership, although none of the cards gives
any details of location, photographer or serial number. Twelve
of these cards are shown below.

This
is an oversized Seven Seas Cruise Line of the Hanseatic (4)
presumably issued when they chartered her or marketed space -
I do not have precise details of the connection.

Hanseatic
Tours was bought by Hapag-Lloyd in 1997, although the colours
of Hanseatic (4) have remained unchanged. This is a Hapag-Lloyd
Tours card of Hanseatic (4), serial S12H.